An oboe orchestra, -with taille, is supported with continuo, + organ obbligato, strings and a four part soloist/choir. The manuscript of this cantata was divided-up, sometime after Bach's death and although, literally, small pieces still survive, almost the entire...
Bach: The Cantatas
2023 Cantatas
– The Feast of St Michael – Friday 29th September 2023 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 149 – ‘Man singet mit Freuden vom Sieg’ –
A festive orchestra for this festive feast day: 3 x trumpets + timps, 3 x oboes, four part chorus, with soloists, -3 x arias + 2 recits, and an organ continuo, strengthened with a single violone. This cantata features an important, interesting and colourful bassoon...
– 16th Sunday after Trinity – 1st October 2023 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 161 – ‘Komm, du suse Todesstunde’ –
A standard string orchestra, -with organ continuo and 4-part chorus, is joined by 2 x flauto dolces, for this 6 movement cantata. There are two solo arias, -with alto and tenor soloists and one recitativo, with alto soloist. Two versions come down to us, Fassung A and...
– 15th Sunday after Trinity – 24th September 2023 – J.S.Bach cantata- BWV 138 – ‘Warum betrubst du dich, mein Herz’ –
This is indeed a fine and memorable six-section cantata, -see note below*, with a double-oboe d'amore-orchestra and the usual 4-part chorus/soloists + continuo. This is an almost totally 'through-composed structure' and in any case, is one of the best and most complex...
– The12th Sunday after Trinity – 3rd of September 2023 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 137 – ‘Lobe den Herren, den machtigen Konig der Ehren’ –
This cantata of 5 movements, follows exactly the text of the 5 verse hymn up on which it is based and its tune is heard in each movement. This hymn tune is popularly known to us today, by its first line, 'O worship the king'. The orchestration is festive, -three...
– 11th Sunday after Trinity – 27th August 2023 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 199 – ‘Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut’ –
This cantata dates from August1713-14, with several revivals following. The complete edition contains much material, -2 versions, with 2 x appendices in the complete edition, the main difference between them being aspects of orchestration, with alternative parts for...
– the 10th Sunday after Trinity – 20th August 2023 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 102 – ‘Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben’ –
This is a 2-part cantata, four numbers making the first part and three, -a curious arrangement, the second, Part 2d, as it says in the complete edition. The orchestra is almost a standard, 2 x oboes + continuo, strings and 4 voice solo/choir. -But, a flute is required...
– 9th Sunday after Trinity – 13th August 2023 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 168 – ‘Tue Rechnung! Donnerwort’ –
This cantata uses its X 2 oboe d'amore orchestra, albeit sparingly, the strings appearing only in the first aria, all the other arias and recits accompanied only by oboes or continuo and the full voiced chorus featuring only in the closing tutti choral. 1/Aria: 'Open...
– Eight Sunday after Trinity – 6th August 2023 – J.S.Bach cantata BVW 178 – ,Wo Gott der Herr nich bei uns halt’ –
Apart from a reinforcing horn in the opening chorus and closing choral, the orchestra for BWV 178 is a standard x2 oboe ensemble, with choir and continuo. However, the text is large and long, the unknown arranger taking the majority of verses from the 8 verse hymn and...
– Seventh Sunday after Trinity – 30th July 2023 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 187 – ,Es warrtet allkes auf dich’ –
A cantata featuring the small oboe orchestra and in two parts, 3+4. Despite this, it shows tight structure and wide varied range. 1/(chorus) 'These wait upon you, that you may, -in good time, give them sustenance. When you do, they gather. When you open your hand,...